John Hurst - J (Rb) & K (Sq) Checkered Grips

Hoosier45 · Feb 2, 2017

There are not a lot of threads about John Hurst grips so I wanted to post photos of these two sets. From the information on this great forum I've determined these to be examples of Mr. Hurst's work. As you all know there were a few "LAPD" craftsman making custom grips and Fuzzy Farrants seem to be the most prevalent. I believe the general shape/outline of these grips, checkering style, open back on the "K", diamond on the "J", and incredible curves align best with Hurst's work. Also, these have the yellow penciled numbers on the inside, another trait of his. Lastly, I bought these from a seller in Sacramento... which doesn't narrow the maker down but is another clue. If I had to guess I'd say the "J" are made of Walnut and the "K" possible cocobolo they have a reddish tone. These have minimal wear and are simply stunning examples of grip making. Enjoy.

Bob L · Feb 2, 2017

First that I have heard of John Hurst grips but they are very sharp looking. Are they as comfortable as they look.

paplinker · Feb 2, 2017

Very nice.
The first pair are K frame?
I have a identical set to that in J frame rosewood. No pic yet.

My second pair below have the circle around the grip screw. Interesting he used both a diamond and a circle pattern on his grips.

Hoosier45 · Feb 2, 2017

To Bob L, yes the palm swell and shape make these very comfortable.

Paplinker, the first set is J frame round butts. They are designed just like yours except for the circle vs diamond. You hit the jackpot finding some rosewoods though! Very nice set sir!

Pig Hunter · Feb 3, 2017

Did Mr. Hurst ever cut the front corner of the frame, the way Fuzzy did?

Toyman · Feb 3, 2017

The top grips are Fuzzy Farant grips and lower ones are John Hurst grips. I meet Patrick Hogue at Las Vegas Antique Arms Show and asked if he could help with identifying their grips but he advise he was not familiar with their work.

SG-688 · Feb 3, 2017

Toyman said:
The top grips are Fuzzy Farant grips and lower ones are John Hurst grips. I meet Patrick Hogue at Las Vegas Antique Arms Show and asked if he could help with identifying their grips but he advise he was not familiar with their work.

Unless I'm missing something, I think those are both Hurst.

While Patrick and Aaron are both friendly and eager to help, they're not familiar with the work of the other LAPD grip makers except for a little about "Fuzzy" or with the really early work from Guy. Sadly, many of us met Guy and Patrick when they were running the match circuit but we didn't ask questions we wish we now had. At least in part, I thought it might be rude.

Hurst also did cut frame grips. I had one & OIF2 has pictures too.

Just this week I corresponded with retired LAPD Lt. Max Hurlbut. He had a new nugget about Hurst:

I attended the LAPD Academy starting (“class of”) 1 August 1960. JOHN HURST and EARLE M. “FUZZY” FARRANT were range instructors. ...
They used a wood-carving machine to make the basic form and then carved to fit your hand (or your wishes, usually “target” or “combat"). FUZZY would draw an outline of your shooting hand and make various notations on it.

HURST would examine your hand, but took no notes.
.

Toyman · Feb 3, 2017

I bought the top grips advertised as Farant's.
The Hurst grips have a signature in gold ink inside have you ever seen
any of his grips with a signature ?

SG-688 · Feb 3, 2017

OIF2 wrote - and observations confirm - that Hurst would write the customer's name inside the grip, as with mine pictured for the Colt MKIII. I've also seen pictures with Hurst's name written inside.

I've not seen a Farrant with a name.

I bought the Colt grips at a show just because they were nice grips, and then coincidentally years later met the Ludwig who originally owned them.

Toyman · Feb 3, 2017

Photos of inside of each grip. I suspect that you are correct that square butt grips are Hurst, the grips screw in each is the same.

SG-688 · Feb 4, 2017

Cut frame Hurst picture

Lt. Hurlbut gave me permission to use these pictures of his engraved Mdl 19 with Hurst grips. It's not as obvious as with some, but he said the frame has been cut.

* My Model 19 S. & W. .357, (1968). Cordia wood grips by JOHN HURST.
Engraving & gold inlays by F.N. Master, ANGELO BEE.

-db- · Feb 4, 2017

The yellow grease pencil markings aren't necessarily a definite clue as to maker (unless it's a signature, of course), as both Hurst and Farrant grips sometimes have these.

Here's a set of Farrant stocks showing this:

A clue that generally points to Hurst is a screw that is quite a bit larger than the screws Farrant used. See the fat Hurst screw in Toyman's photo above, post #6.

Combat · Feb 4, 2017

I am a big fan of Hurst grips.Wish I had more, some RB's would be nice.

SG-688 · Feb 4, 2017

When, in 1961, Jeff Cooper wanted to test the long range accuracy of the .44 Magnum, he went to the best shooter he knew: John Hurst.

added: From Jeff Cooper's 1961 book The Complete Book of Modern Handgunning
Get a Grip on That Gun p. 182

Officer Hurst became so interested in perfecting this stock design that he makes them as a hobby in his garage workshop. While visiting him there recently, I was shown just how completely different they are from all other factory or usual custom-made styles. The principle is that when a person points at an object with his forefinger, each of the other fingers of the hand reflexively falls into a pattern of diminishing sized circles, rather than for the little finger and middle fingers to be extended as they are on usual target grips. Thus, all of his stocks, like those originally designed by Sgt. Stark, taper down to a very small sized butt - so small that it is necessary to cut off about ¾ inch of the front comer of the handle frame on both Colt and S&W medium and large frame revolvers. The wood of these stocks has indentations for the lower three fingers, plus an optional thumbrest. All of them have a filler between the usual gap from stock to the rear of the trigger-guard bow. They also have a slight flange on the palm side of the butt which is contoured to fit under the lower edge of the fist. Checkering is usually done only on the palm-side and at the tang. This grip is made for use on any caliber of gun; however, it was expressly designed for combat weapons.

And .... HT to DC Wilson who thought of checking the LAPD pension board.

John W. Hurst Police Service Retired: 06-01-78 Died: 05-15-07

SG-688 · Feb 5, 2017

From OIF2's Hurst thread. I had saved the photo of the Hurst copy by "George." I'll buzz CALREB for an update.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/101546-stocks-hurst-2.html

3-15-2014

CALREB said:
I was reading an april 1960 American Rifleman magazine last night, in The Competition Corner section it stated LAPD Officer John Hurst had won a match in southern Cal with a score of 2500 --, an excellent score as the match was fired in 50-60 MPH winds that tore targets and backers off the frames...
Reminded me that afew years ago I acquired a couple more sets of Hurst from a good friend, He was good friends with John especially toward the end of John's life and John was teaching him to make grips. He actually ended up buying Johns grip making equipment,wood, some guns and other stuff. He has great stories also. Anyway told him I wanted a couple (new ) sets if possible as mine are all used.
Here is what he gave me.
K frames are Mesquite, 1911 are brazilian ironwood ( Pau Faro ?) both are little works of art to me , that will go in my trinket cabinet and never be mounted. Thanks George.....
Bob

Somewhere I have some of the rubber(DAVIS) copies of Johns grips,they didn't fit well or hold up well so they didn't last long .

paplinker · Feb 5, 2017

Hurst was a lefty i see. Maybe lack of grip choices inspired him some.

3S16 · Feb 5, 2017

Back in the early 80's I was a Detective with a SoCal Sheriff's Dept.. Detectives were issued 2 1/2" Model 66's, while the Patrol Deputies carried 4" 66's.
The R/B service grips felt small in my hands. As an anniversary gift, my wife contacted "Fuzzy" Farrant to order a custom set of Combat grips. He sent a form requesting an outline of my shooting hand, plus additional information. Three weeks later they arrived. My 66 wore those grips for years on and off duty. They got dinged, scratched and even chipped and finally came to rest in the back of the gun safe when the Dept. went to Sigs.
I recently acquired a beautiful 66-2 3 inch. I remembered the old "Fuzzy" grips and sent them off to DWFAN to be restored I was amazed at the transformation! My wife said they look better now than when she bought them. They now reside on the 66-2.
The markings on the inside of the panels are "Y" (for my last name) and I believe the "22" is for a matched set of panels.

Hoosier45 · Feb 5, 2017

Great info everyone

Thank you everyone for posting. I was away this weekend and am shocked to see this many posts and the great photos to go along with the information. Hopefully this was educational for many of us and this thread can be used in the future to identify grips. Mr Hurst was obviously a very talented gentleman. Toyman, SG-688, and 3S16 thank you for sharing your photos. It is clear that all of those "LAPD" grip-makers have similar traits and learned from one another. If only I could find an N-frame set.

CALREB · Feb 6, 2017

SG-688 Sorry it took me a while, I've been really busy lately, bought a house and fixin to move to TX. Thank God. George messes with the grip thing as a hobby , maybe in a few years, when he retires he will take it up. He has all John's equipment. The grips he gave me were all made by John, sometime before his death. Georges attempts are good but not as nice as John, yet anyway. I have Georges on a couple of guns John,s stay on the gun items shelves of the office.
Guy also made some wood grips similar to Hearst. They are not real common.
I think everyone would have to agree that although people love the older , Farrant, Hurst grips. Guy was far and away the most successful of the LAPD Armorer/Instructor /Grip makers.

114R31c · Dec 9, 2017

John Hurst and Fuzzy along with Guy Hogue worked at the Academy Firearms Section at the same time. John shot in the 1960 Olympics and retired in the mid 80's. Guy retired in the late 60's a little before Fuzzy. I think. I shot with John on the LAPD pistol team for many years. Still have many sets of his grips. Worked with him, making mine and several others. Total Gentleman and Class guy. Many great stories.

John Hurst - J (Rb) & K (Sq) Checkered Grips

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